a dead heat

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a dead heat" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is typically used to describe a situation in which two or more competitors are tied in a race, contest, or election. For example, "Yesterday's election ended in a dead heat, with the two candidates receiving an equal number of votes."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Politics

Sports

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

"Now, it's a dead heat".

The New York Times

Statistically speaking, that's a dead heat.

The New Yorker

The race was a dead heat.

The New Yorker

"Right now it's a dead heat".

The New York Times - Sports

Florida is a dead heat, too.

The New York Times

They had predicted a dead heat.

The Guardian - Opinion

Verdict: it's a dead heat.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"I was rooting for a dead heat.

The New York Times - Sports

"They are in a dead heat.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

Mercedes estimates a dead-heat 0-to-60 m.p.h.

The New York Times

A dead-heat?

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In political reporting, use this phrase to highlight that no candidate has a significant advantage in the polls.

Common error

Do not use "a dead heat" to describe a situation that is boring or slow. While 'dead' is in the phrase, it implies an intense, active struggle that resulted in equality, not a lack of movement. For a situation with no progress, use "a stalemate" or "a dead end" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a dead heat" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the object of a preposition or a predicate nominative. In the sentences analyzed by Ludwig, it often follows verbs like "finished in", "showed", or "is", acting as the definitive descriptor for a tied state.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Politics

10%

Sports

5%

Less common in

Science

2%

Wiki

1%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a dead heat" is a robust and highly effective idiom for describing situations of perfect equality in competition. According to Ludwig AI, it is most frequently utilized in political polling and sports reporting to describe races that are too close to distinguish a winner. Its grammatical status is unquestioned, and it is a preferred choice for writers seeking to add descriptive flair to a literal "tie". Whether referring to the 1877 Oxford-Cambridge boat race or a modern presidential election, the phrase remains a staple of high-quality English prose.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a tie

Standard term for two competitors achieving the same score or time.

a draw

Commonly used in sports and games to indicate an undecided or equal result.

neck and neck

Focuses on the closeness of the race rather than just the final result.

too close to call

Often used in political polling when the margin of error is greater than the lead.

level pegging

A British idiom indicating that competitors are at the same level of progress.

evenly matched

Describes the relative skill or status of the competitors rather than the specific event outcome.

on par

Indicates equality in value or quality, often used in professional contexts.

a statistical tie

Technical variation used when differences are within the margin of error.

matching scores

A literal description of the outcome without using idiomatic language.

even-steven

An informal way to describe a situation where everything is balanced or equal.

FAQs

How do I use "a dead heat" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe an outcome, such as: "The election ended in "a dead heat", forcing a recount of every ballot."

What can I say instead of "a dead heat"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "a tie", "a draw", or "neck and neck".

Which is correct, "a dead heat" or "a dead tie"?

While "a dead tie" is occasionally used, "a dead heat" is the established idiom in English and is much more common in professional writing.

What is the difference between "a dead heat" and a draw?

A "a draw" is a general term for an equal result, whereas "a dead heat" implies that the competitors were moving at full speed or intensity toward a finish line.